After nearly two decades of nail-biting anticipation, the iconic television series “Moonlighting” has finally made its way to the world of streaming. Astonishingly, “Moonlighting” had managed to stay in the collective consciousness even during its absence. When discussing the origins of the action classic “Die Hard,” it’s impossible to ignore the skepticism surrounding Bruce Willis’ transition from his role on “Moonlighting” to a credible action hero. Yet, for those who grew up watching TV in the ’90s, the quest to watch “Moonlighting” had become an exercise in frustration. The show never found its way into syndication, and apart from a few cameo appearances on cable, “Moonlighting” had become an enigmatic chapter in Cybill Shepherd’s legendary career, unseen and difficult to describe.
However, that enigma was unraveled recently when Glenn Gordon Caron’s groundbreaking comedy series landed on Hulu, making it widely available for the first time since its DVD release back in 2005. But what exactly took “Moonlighting” so long to make it to streaming? The answer could be worthy of a case tackled by the Blue Moon Detective Agency.
What Exactly Is “Moonlighting”?
“Moonlighting” was a romantic comedy series crafted by Glenn Gordon Caron. Following the success of his earlier hit, “Remington Steele,” a detective series starring a pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan, ABC commissioned another mysterious series from Caron. This time, he returned with something a bit more unconventional.
“Moonlighting” features Cybill Shepherd as Maddie Hayes, a fashion model who is swindled into bankruptcy by her accountant. Left with few alternatives, she begins working at the Blue Moon Detective Agency, which she acquired as a tax write-off, under the guidance of David Addison, played by Bruce Willis. The show is as eccentric as this description suggests, and that’s precisely the point. “Moonlighting” placed the will-they-won’t-they romantic relationship of Maddie and David at the forefront, exploring it through weekly adventures that doubled as formal experiments. The series ventured into various genres through themed mysteries and dream sequences, allowing its stars to dabble in musicals, screwball comedies, film noir, and even Shakespearean drama. The show’s playful approach allowed for self-aware humor that occasionally broke the fourth wall, the detective series format, and sometimes even viewers’ expectations.
“Moonlighting” ran for five seasons, with both its leads and the audience growing a bit weary of the romantic tension after Maddie and David finally shared a kiss in season three. Around this time, Bruce Willis had become one of the world’s biggest stars, thanks to “Die Hard,” while Cybill Shepherd was occupied with motherhood, forcing her absence from much of the show’s latter half. With the dramatic tension resolved, Willis losing interest in television, and Shepherd focusing on her family, “Moonlighting” abruptly concluded in 1989, leaving the Blue Moon Detective Agency’s final case unsolved.
Where Has “Moonlighting” Been?
With only 66 episodes to its name, “Moonlighting” unfortunately fell short of the typical 100-episode threshold required for syndication. This lack of sufficient content for round-the-clock airing prevented the series from making it onto network and cable lineups. However, in 1999, the show did find a temporary home on Bravo under the tagline “Too good for TV” programming – this was before Bravo evolved into the epicenter of the Andy Cohen Unscripted Cinematic Universe. This was its only substantial American revival until Lionsgate released the series on DVD between 2005 and 2007. Although all five seasons have since gone out of print, they can still be located on eBay. Regrettably, those DVD releases were notably incomplete, omitting scenes and music that had been part of the original broadcasts.
As for streaming, “Moonlighting” was produced before the era of Netflix and its streaming counterparts. Because it was created without provisions for streaming in its licensing agreements, the show presented a legal quagmire for lawyers in the mid-2000s due to its extensive use of popular music. Furthermore, the Walt Disney Company, which has owned the rights to the show for two decades, seemed hesitant to tackle the issue. This is a situation similar to what kept other beloved shows like “The State,” “The Wonder Years,” and “WKRP in Cincinnati” away from home video for years.
According to Glenn Gordon Caron, “When we made ‘Moonlighting,’ television shows didn’t typically use pop music. It was really just us and ‘Miami Vice’ at that time. So when deals were made for the music, no one anticipated streaming. In order to exhibit the show on streaming, the owner of the show, which is the Walt Disney Company, has to go back and make deals for all that music – and they’ve resisted doing that for six or seven years now.”
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Fortunately, the streaming version of “Moonlighting” is currently the most comprehensive release since its initial broadcast. Missing elements from the series, which were absent from the DVD release, have been meticulously restored. Some background and ambient music may have been replaced, but anything deemed “critical” to the story remains intact, ensuring an authentic viewing experience.
All of these challenges are now in the past, and “Moonlighting” is accessible to anyone with a Hulu account, bringing this distinctive, unique, and historically significant show back to television where it truly belongs. Some “will-they-won’t-theys” aren’t meant to last – and sometimes, that’s a good thing.
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